ISLAMABAD: Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi on Sunday said Pakistan decided to open the Kartarpur Corridor in view of longstanding desires of the Sikh community.

In a tweet, he said Pakistan has taken this historic initiative in good faith and would carry it forward in the same spirit.

The minister said dragging his comment towards Sikh sentiments was a deliberate attempt to misrepresent and mislead. He said what he said was strictly with reference to bilateral interaction with the Indian government.

Shah Mehmood Qureshi said Pakistan had deep respect for Sikh sentiments and no amount of distortions or controversies would change it.

Dragging my comment towards “Sikh sentiments” is a deliberate attempt to misrepresent & mislead. What I said was strictly with ref to bilat.interaction with the Indian Govt. We have deep respect for Sikh sentiments & no amount of distortions or controversies would change it. 1/2

In deference to the long-standing desires of our Sikh brethren, we decided to open the Kartarpur Corridor. We have taken this historic initiative in good faith and will carry it forward in good faith. 2/2

Prime Minister Imran Khan performed the groundbreaking of the much-awaited Kartarpur corridor, that will connect Gurdwara Darbar Sahib in Kartarpur to Dera Baba Nanak in India’s Gurdaspur district, on November 28.

The ground-breaking ceremony was attended by Chief of the Army Staff Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa, Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi and other government officials.

Former Indian cricketer and member of Punjab cabinet Navjot Singh Sidhu and other Indian ministers were also present at the occasion,

A group of Indian journalists and international media were also in attendance to cover the unprecedented event .

The formal opening of the work of the Kartarpur Corridor in India had begun on November 26 after a formal ceremony.